It's all about turning experience into results in Berlin this season. A year after a resurgence in the program's numbers, coach Jim Day wants to see the Redcoats take a step closer to returning to what they once were, one of the state's premier teams.

"We are currently at 32 [wrestlers], so I'm pretty pleased with where we are at," said Day, entering his 32nd season. "The step forward should be, for those who didn't, placing in the state tournament and for the ones who did, placing in the State Open and qualifying for New Englands."

The Redcoats were 21-5 a year ago but just 2-3 in the CCC South, finishing fourth in the Class M tournament. Berlin hasn't won a state title since 2003, its last of nine championships in a span of 17 years.

Leading the returners are seniors Jeremy Eliades and Zach Veleas, who both placed fourth in Class M in 2013. The Redcoats are deep in the lighter weight classes, with sophomore Nick Arborio building off a 24-win freshman season and Andrew Zovich — a transfer and former South Carolina regional champion — added to the mix.

"[Zovich] is going to have to work to make our lineup," Day said. "He is very intense and athletic, but down low we have a lot of incoming freshmen who are very tough, plus returning talent."

Berlin will face an early season test Dec. 20 when it hosts the CJ McCormack Tournament. Many of New England's and Connecticut's top teams are scheduled to participate.

"I'm looking for us to compete, no matter who it is against, and not be intimidated," Day said. "That will be a good weekend — we will find out exactly where we stand for when we start wrestling in-state competition."

Xavier Strengthens Schedule

The Falcons will be tournament-tested long before the postseason arrives. Xavier beefed up its dual meet schedule this season with contests against some of New England's top programs, including the defending New England tournament champion Mt. Anthony of Vermont. The Falcons also face Timberlane (N.H.) and Springfield Central (Mass.), both of whom finished in the top 10 in the New Englands a year ago.

"We are going to find out fast who we are," Xavier coach Mike Cunningham said. "This might be a year where going into the state tournament some guys don't have great records but are much better than their records indicate."

The 2014 Class LL runner-up and three-time defending SCC champion has plenty of talent with five wrestlers who placed in the state tournament returning. That group is led by Chidi Broderick, who was the runner-up at 220. However, the Falcons have many first-year starters on their roster, particularly in the middle-weight classes.

"Having those [returning] guys is great because they have experience," Cunningham said. "But I have a lot of seniors who haven't started. If they step up and a couple of the incoming freshmen step up, then we've got a shot to be a contender with the likes of Newtown and New Milford."

East Catholic Rebuilding

Competing in the CCC North with five schools in Class LL and another in Class L, Class S East Catholic always has a tough road. This season the Eagles will feature a group of mostly sophomores and juniors with little to no experience.

"They are hard-working kids," East Catholic coach Mike Mooney said. "The ones from last year who are in their second year are getting better already. We are just going to keep building while teaching the new kids fundamentals."

Junior Jack Desautels, a second-year wrestler at 250, showed promise last season before being sidelined with an injury before the postseason. The Eagles finished in the middle of the pack (16th) in last year's Class S tournament. Despite losing nine seniors from the 2013-14 season, Mooney says his group of nearly 20 sophomores and juniors is great for a school with East Catholic's enrollment. The key for Mooney and the Eagles will be balancing the experience of playing larger and deeper schools such as Glastonbury and South Windsor during the regular season, while trying to maintain confidence in the building process.

"You look for good matchups," Mooney said. "With these really big schools, they have two or three kids per weight class. Putting a brand new, one-year guy in there all the time, you hope they don't lose that desire to continue to get better. You have to be willing to grind it out, and we are starting to see that dedication from the kids."